Iron pot-shaped Shikai wave lid incense burner

Iron Pot-Shaped Shikai Wave Lid Incense Burner

This incense burner takes the classic "tetsubachi" (iron alms-bowl) silhouette—named for its resemblance to a monk's rounded iron bowl rather than its material—and tops it with a lid carved in a swirling shikai-nami ("waves of the four seas") pattern. The rolling wave motif has long symbolised the vastness of the ocean and the wish for smooth, unbroken good fortune, making this piece a popular choice for both incense practice and display.

Cast in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, the burner is finished in a warm antique patina (furude-iro) that deepens the texture of the wave carving and gives the copper surface a time-worn, refined appearance.

Takaoka has been Japan's foremost centre for cast metalwork for more than 400 years, ever since the local lord invited skilled casters to the area in the early Edo period. Artisans there still use traditional sand-mould casting and hand-finishing techniques to produce copperware prized for incense burners, vases, and Buddhist altar fittings.

How to Use

Fill the bowl with incense ash, then stand incense sticks, cones, or lit charcoal in the ash as you would with any traditional incense burner. The wave-carved lid can be used to gently control airflow and diffuse the fragrance.

Product Details

• Material: Copper, antique patina (furude-iro) finish
• Size: 10.6 cm diameter x 11.5 cm height (4.17 in x 4.53 in)
• Includes: Paulownia wood box